Albemarle, North Carolina native Kellie Pickler will be in Franklin this weekend as she performs at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Pickler, who is known as a sweet, quirky, country girl, won the hearts of millions when she competed on NBC’s “American Idol.” Her debut album, “Small Town Girl,” was certified gold with three singles from the album earning spots on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Some of her hits include, “Red High Heels,” I Wonder,” and “Best Days of Your Life.”

The concert, which is part of the university’s “Week of Welcome” activities, begins at 7:30 p.m. following a music from deejay beginning at 6 p.m.

Kingston’s self-titled debut album sold more than a million copies and featured hit singles including “Beautiful Girls.” Kingston later released the album “Tomorrow,” which had singles “Fire Burning” and “Face Drop,” and most recently “Back 2 Life,” which fuses reggae, hip-hop, rhythm and blues and electronic effects. His latest album draws from his experience recovering from a 2011 jet skiing accident in Miami Beach that hospitalized him for a month and required two open-heart surgeries.

The Franklin Main Street Program is seeking designs for their first-ever PumpkinFest t-shirt with a contest open to artists of all ages; professional, amateur and student.“This is the 16th year of the event and we want to celebrate one of Franklin’s longest running festivals with a commemorative t-shirt,” said Linda Schlott, Franklin Main Street Program Executive Director.“The t-shirt is a great way to get the community involved in an event that is so well received each year.”